Board Minutes, February 19, 2008

Towns County Homeowners Association

Board of Directors Meeting, February 19, 2008


TCHA Board and Representatives in Attendance:

Charley Kraus, Pres; Wes Lerdon, V.P. & Acting Sec.; Tony Branan, Treas.; Bob Keys Dir.; Diane Baggett, Dir.; Mike Brock, Dir.


Invited Guests/Associates:

Arthur Mott, Lake Forest (Ramey Mt.) HOA and Janet McCallen, Hidden Fields HOA


Old Business and Activity Reports:

Minutes of the January 15th meeting had been reviewed by e-mail with Wes Lerdon, and were approved, as revised, and issued to the Board by e-mail from Wes.

Tony Branan distributed the Financial Report, as of Feb 19th, to all attendees. In summary, Balance on Hand $1,912.47, plus two CDs of $2,062.73 for Total Cash Assets of $4,145.20.

Before the meeting, Janet McCallen delivered $91.75 to Tony for proceeds from Stop I-3 bumper stickers sold, with proceeds due to the TCHA, from our original printing. This sum is in addition to the above Total Cash Assets of $4,145.20.

Charley proposed that, from now on, new members paying dues after April 1st of any year, be credited as members through June 30 of the following year. This change will not apply to old members who have become delinquent in their dues. The by-laws require that the membership be notified every June 1st that annual dues should be paid by July 1, for the next year's membership. The Board voted approval of this proposal.

Tony attended the Y. Harris Council meeting, but there were no actions of interest to TCHA.
Bob Keys reported no opposition to Commissioner Kendall's First Reading of the "1st Amendment to Ordinance Providing for Georgia State Minimum Standard Code for Administration and Enforcement of Georgia State Minimum Code for Construction as Adopted on September 21, 2006, effective January 1, 2007". The second read will be held Thursday evening, Feb 21, at 6:00 PM.

Bob will investigate progress to date on a written follow up that was required for TC to receive $30,000, appropriated by Georgia by a deadline or TC would lose the money. The $30,000 is to be used to update all TC addresses for correctness, so when EMS receives a call through 911 they have correct information to respond to that location.

Bob reported 111 new pickets are available for installation in the fence, at the beach playground and a TCHA work team will be organized to do the work when weather improves.

Bob stated that planning of the Emergency Responders meeting is proceeding toward having Bill Kendall, Bob Scott, Higgins the Red Cross Emergency Coordinator, JEMA and FEMA and others to meet in one or two months. Meanwhile, communication antennas will be installed at the hospital and TC High School with a potential repeater atop Bell Mountain. Communication will go out to the HAM Radio Operators regarding correct frequencies, VHF and UHF line of sight transmissions, confer with Mrs. Stamey at 911 and Homeland Security. One person should be designated as coordinator, such as Bill Kendall, with his designees to coordinate with all government agencies.
An important adjunct to the Responder discussions was how our members and TC part time residents, with out of county cell phone area codes, can contact the TC 911 in an emergency. Keys will investigate current phone constraints and how calls may be placed to TC during future emergencies.

Diane Baggett said there was no Planning Commission Meeting for February. However, she furnished the following facts from the 15 January Planning meeting that were received after the TCHA January minutes were written:

Sweetwater Cove was represented by Jason Hauffman of Southern Geosystem. This

development is off Sunnyside. The developer is John Harrison and there are 21 lots with two

common areas, individual septic tanks and it will have TC water. Concern was expressed by

Mrs. Martin about EPD and there was some discussion about the bridge. No covenants apply.

The road will be private. The motion was carried unanimously to accept the Final.

Concerns were expressed about possible work being done on Phase 5 of Bell Meadows, as

the Preliminary approval has expired. The Commissioner was called into the meeting and

Attorney Rob Kiker will send a letter to the developer, to ask what the developer's plans are

for Phase 5, and request a response.

Mike Brock reported he has turned in "Neighborhood Watch" materials requests to TC, for such items as signs, how to set up Watch, and other printed matter to be paid for and provided to the TCHA by TC.

Mike also reported on the needs for "Adopt-a-Highway" in TC. Mike said there are needs on TC roads and he will meet further with Commissioner Kendall regarding TCHA participation in this program. The TCHA would be credited on the signs as adopting particular assigned stretches, of both sides of roads, for a mile at a time. It was felt by the Board that this would be a good way for TCHA to be recognized as contributors to rural road cleanup, beautification

and environmental improvement. Mike will take e-mail and calls of interest regarding this worthwhile program and road sites to be suggested by our membership.

Bob Crawford was absent, but previously provided the following summary of the Feb. 5th

Hiawassee City Council Meeting that Bob attended:

Sheriff Clinton swore in the five Hiawassee Police Officers as TC Deputies. This will

authorize them to enforce laws throughout TC.

Council approved the 2007 and 2008 audits.

The water surcharge subject was tabled.

Howard Cunningham was appointed Mayor Pro Tem.

Council approved $5.700.00 to replace valves and meters at the lake water intake.

Hayes James, sewer contractors, reported the belt press should be operational in April.

Mayor Mathis presented appreciation certificates to former Council members Maney and Hugh Hoodenpyle.

Tony Branan said all Y. Harris City Council Members plan on attending the TCHA/Y.H. College

sponsored Town Hall meeting tonight, Feb 19, at the College, with U.S. Congressman Paul Broun. Charley directed Wes to send out one last e-mail reminder of the Town Hall Meeting to all TCHA members and HOA Associates.

Tony presented his very good draft of a TCHA position paper for forwarding to the TVA, on their Operations Study, regarding various sites TVA has listed for potential development of ramps, resorts, etc. Tony's paper presented some important insight to lack of Georgia DNA enforcement of existing regulations and safe boating practices. The board discussed the position paper and made editorial suggestions including clarifications, deletions, additions, with careful attention to presenting constructive suggestions, and guidance to the government agencies about safe and environmentally proper use of the lake for better enjoyment by all citizens.

Janet McCallen suggested better enforcement of laws and regulations with a stipulation against further "commercial" development of the TVA lands. Charley recommended that Tony

write a lead-in to the position paper to emphasize enforcement of current safety regulations.

New Business:

Charley will write a draft of a TCHA letter to the US Forestry Service about TC use of the Route 288 campground property. The draft will be reviewed by the board members. Charley will also coordinate with Commissioner Kendall. Then, Charley will send it to the Forestry Service to meet the comments submission deadline of Friday, 29 February.

A General Membership Meeting was discussed for April, as timing would be good before the

2008 Officer Elections general meeting in June. The date and agenda will be finalized at the next Board meeting in March.

Charley introduced the subject of considering a TCHA Web Site and investigating costs of

creating it. Mike Brock recommended the potential site should have links to the C of C, other

organizations and government agencies.

TCHA and Guest Homeowner Assoc.(HOA) and Developer Representative Discussions:

Mike Brock continues his work on a baseline set of HOA covenants to assist HOAs and

developers, with guidelines to apply when preparing good covenants. This is important, as it

is difficult to amend or add to them once they have been enacted

Arthur Mott reported that Lake Forest has decided to send one member to represent their

association at our Board meetings. That person will be furnished with the TCHA minutes to

provide reference when reviewing our county wide work with the Lake Forest membership.

Arthur also indicated their association sees benefits in their members joining or continuing

their individual memberships in the TCHA. Charley suggested the LFHOA encourage their members to join the TCHA. He also encouraged Hidden Fields to do likewise since they have

only five members. He said the TCHA is flexible about large and small HOAs and encouraged resident's in small HOAs to join the TCHA to stay informed and have a bigger voice in County wide happenings and government activities.

The next TCHA Board meeting was set for Tuesday, March 18th, 9-11 AM, in the Y. Harris Library Conference Room. The motion was made, seconded and passed, to adjourn.

Submitted by Wes Lerdon, TCHA V. Pres. and Acting Secretary